American Fashions – Spring 1896

Historical significance of American Gilded Age fashion plates in 1896

This authentic hand-colored lithograph from the spring 1896 issue of La Mode de Paris exemplifies the high-fashion expectations of the Gilded Age elite in the United States. Published by A. McDowell and Company on West 14th Street, New York, this plate acted as an essential seasonal lookbook for professional dressmakers, showcasing how European couture trends from Paris were imported and tailored to suit the luxurious afternoon promenade and visiting etiquette of wealthy American women.

Sartorial analysis of late-Victorian gigot sleeves and spring textiles

The print masterfully illustrates the extreme “gigot” or leg-of-mutton sleeve silhouette that defined the mid-1890s dressmaking landscape. The left figure models a bold blue and black vertical-striped day dress with bias-cut sleeves and a vibrant green velvet vest insert, complemented by an ornate feathered hat. The right figure displays a lavender damask silk gown featuring oversized shoulder bows, an open-front bodice trimmed with delicate cream lace ruffles, a matching pink silk cravat, and a structured floral bonnet.